<![CDATA[The Quote I Wrote... - HOME]]>Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:15:23 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Degree vs. Happiness: Transferring for Transformation]]>Sun, 20 May 2012 23:51:26 GMThttp://www.thequoteiwrote.com/1/post/2012/05/degree-vs-happinesstransferring-for-transformation.htmlHello, hello! Where to begin, where to begin?! Well, first off, it's been a very long week. As in, a VERYYYYY long week. That said, I'm happy to be back on your computer screen...very happy, indeed. 

This past week has been an interesting one. If you don't know this about me already, then let me tell you that after two years at New York University, I decided it was in my best interest to transfer to the University of Maryland. I knew I wasn't happy at NYU, and I knew that, unless I took some sort of action, things weren't going to change. Whereas I thought my transferring to UMD meant that I would get to spend more time with my family (something I desperately wanted and perhaps even needed), the way things actually panned out was very different. 

A few months into my Junior year (my first year at UMD), my parents moved to Florida. Now, my mother and I constantly argue about this particular subject (so mom, if you're reading this please don't take it personally. Oh, and I love you. A lot.) but my feeling is that, at the time I transferred universities, I really needed my parents. One of my closest friends had tried to commit suicide, I was just starting to make headway in my battle with bulimia, and I was a lost and lonely individual. I get that my parents wanted to move on with their lives (they had just finished dealing with their own issues), but had I known that they were going to pack up and move the second I moved back to my hometown, then I probably wouldn't have transferred...at least not to UMD that is. Nonetheless, if there is something that I have learned over the years, it's that there's no point in dwelling on the past because, let's face it, dwelling on the past won't do diddily squat for your present or your future. That said, I have also learned that if I feel a certain way, regardless of it's level of rationality, I have to honor the fact that that's how I feel. 

In response to my transferring universities, I must admit that, to this day, I still feel as though I downgraded myself. I had gotten into NYU, was a double major, and then decided to throw all of that away so that I could move back home to be near mommy and daddy. And then, when mommy and daddy moved, it was really like I had thrown everything away because now I had nothing. I felt as though I was back where I started, only this time, instead of attending a prestigious university, I was at state school. In fact, I think this has a lot to do with why I pushed myself to graduate in three and a half years (with a sh*t ton of excess credits, mind you), because I think in some way, it was my personal way of "making up" for the fact that I had downgraded myself when I transferred. Now, with all of that said, let me back up and tell you the following: by no means do I think that the University of Maryland is a bad school. It's quite the opposite actually. 

In comparing the degree of difficulty from my classes at NYU to those I took at UMD, I must tell you, the latter was harder. Then again, perhaps I feel this way because I didn't like the formality of UMD's curriculum. It was rigid, boring, heavy on "busy work," and all in all, very much what one could/would/and should expect from a state school. On the other hand, NYU's curriculum seemed, I don't know, more relavent. It didn't matter that I was pursuing some random double degree (a BA in journalism and a BS in food studies, should you be at all curious). At NYU, the material was predominately taught by adjunct professors who also worked in the industry that they themselves were teaching. They knew what emerging graduates would need to know in order to excel in the modern version of the field at hand. They knew how to eliminate the textbook while feeding you the facts. UMD?...not so much. But enough about college curriculum, and back to what this article was supposed to be about: this week has been an interesting one...for an array of reasons.

This past week, my friends from NYU graduated. This past weekend, my friends from UMD graduated. This past week and weekend, I have not been able to go on Facebook and look at the pictures on my newsfeed without feeling. Yes, just that: "feeling." Sometimes I feel anger--mad at myself for transfering. Other times I feel joy--happy that I was able to grab my life by the horns and get out of a school that, despite providing a great education, left me feeling alone and unheard. And then there are the times I log onto Facebook, I see these photos, and I think: What would have happened had I not transferred? How would my life be different? Well, for starters, I'm almost positive that I wouldn't be the happy girl that I am today. I was lost and lonely at NYU. I might not have loved my time at UMD, but I loved that I was able to find myself, re-connect with my religion ("challah" at my fellow Jews in da hizzy....yeah, I'm so white it's not even funny), and, most importantly, find my way to the BF (who, despite transferring from UMD to NYU--our time at NYU overlapped--I might have otherwise never met).

All in all, I guess you could say that everything ended up falling into place. Yes at times I am still frustrated by my decision to transfer schools, but let's face it: my transferring schools wound up transforming me. Had I stayed at NYU, sure I would have been able to wear that purple gown in Yankee Stadium and walk across the stage in Radio City Music Hall, but I wouldn't have been the "me" that I am today--and in all seriousness, I think I turned out pretty darn well...minus the small ego trip I just sent myself on. And, while my life has not exactly been the journey my elementary school self thought it would be, the truth of the matter is, I wouldn't change a thing...the absurd level of cheesiness in that last line included.
]]><![CDATA[Going On Half Hiatus]]>Wed, 16 May 2012 00:49:07 GMThttp://www.thequoteiwrote.com/1/post/2012/05/going-on-half-hiatus.htmlSo, here's the delio kidlets: I have a lot going on...as in A LOT! Whereas we are well aware of my unrequited love for quotes and, even more, my love for all of you, I can't ignore the facts. My coaching business is starting to take off and my time with clients is starting to eat into my blog time. I'd say "no bueno," but let's be real, homegirl needs/likes mula (I'd prefer to not go the ramen noodle diet route, thank you very much). That said, before you break out the kleenex and snuggle up to my good friends Ben & Jerry, let me tell you that I'm not going away completely. While you can still get your daily Lindsay fix over at my other web lovechild five days a week, I will be back in blogging action on those other two days of the week (you know, during that day-duet called the weekend). 

So, mark it in your calendars and let the countdown begin. Four more days my friends, four more days.


XO,
The girl who wrote the quote
]]><![CDATA[Happy Mother's Day!!]]>Mon, 14 May 2012 01:47:10 GMThttp://www.thequoteiwrote.com/1/post/2012/05/happy-mothers-day.htmlI know that there is just over two hours left to this glorious mother's day, but before the day is done, I just wanted to wish all of you mamas out there a very, very happy mother's day! ...and an extra special happy mother's day wish to my mother :)
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Love you so much!
]]><![CDATA[Bad Blogger Status]]>Sat, 12 May 2012 23:39:58 GMThttp://www.thequoteiwrote.com/1/post/2012/05/did-you-miss-me.htmlHello, ladies and gents ...and by "gents" I mean "gent" (i.e. the BF, seeing how he's the only male I assume reads this site). I realize I've been abnormally quiet lately. So not like me, I know. Anywho, I'm back now! And really, isn't that all that matters?! 

On this lovely Saturday afternoon (or is it evening?...it's so freakin' sunny out still, who even knows these days!), I thought it would only be of increased appropriateness that, in returning back to TQIW after a few days off, I'd return to participating in The Quotation Inspiration Project as well. I know, I know: bad blogger!
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(original post found here)

I'm not going to lie, it was nice to be back in quote posting action. I really do get a thrill out of making others smile! Adore.

On a different note, where did this day go?! I swear, time flies when you're having "fun" ...and by fun, I mean working. I still have a few hours left in the day before my elderly women, 9:30pm bedtime setting self feels the need to close up shop and call it a night. Clock is ticking. Gotta roll.
]]><![CDATA[Not exactly feeling too great...]]>Thu, 10 May 2012 00:26:00 GMThttp://www.thequoteiwrote.com/1/post/2012/05/not-exactly-feeling-too-great.html...so I don't exactly think it's going to be a "TQIW posting" kind of night. Will be back in blogging action tomorrow! 

Later gators!]]><![CDATA[Mr. Right Isn't Perfect. Deal With It.]]>Wed, 09 May 2012 02:19:53 GMThttp://www.thequoteiwrote.com/1/post/2012/05/mr-right-isnt-perfect-deal-with-it.htmlWell, Tuesday is officially the new Friday. In other words, the BF and I indulged in a mid-week "date night" tonight. Twas lovely, thanks for asking (especially seeing how last week's b-day dinner was kind of a flop).

Anyway, seeing how the thought of tonight's date night had me in love la la land all day, I decided to take a cue from today's TLM "love + relationships" post and make today's QOTD one about LOVE! Oh, and for all you single peeps out there: please, don't hate. Gracias.
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"We come to love not by finding a perfect person but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." 
-Sam Keen

Sure we all have a list of our wants, needs, and no thank yous when it comes to finding "the one" (or even just a "someone"), but when push comes to shove and you meet Mr. (or Mrs.) Right, you better bet your britches that your list will be going bye-bye as you are lured in by your lover boy/girl/it thing. But let's be honest for a hot sec (as if honesty isn't my constant policy, ha!), no significant other is "perfect." They can be perfect for you, and in fact should be, but as your 6th grade guidance counselor always told you: no one is perfect! ...not even that special someone.
]]><![CDATA[Spring Cleaning of the Soul]]>Tue, 08 May 2012 00:48:02 GMThttp://www.thequoteiwrote.com/1/post/2012/05/spring-cleaning-of-the-soul.htmlIf there was ever a quote that embodied my core belief, then this would be it...
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"Fear of failure must never be a reason not to try something."
-Frederick Smith

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: if you want something you've never had, you have to something you've never done. And, whether you like it or not, fear is and will always be a part of this "new experience" equation. 

So, get your booty in gear and do some spring cleaning of your soul. I promise, you won't be disappointed.
]]><![CDATA[Cuz Quotes Are My Religion]]>Mon, 07 May 2012 01:11:31 GMThttp://www.thequoteiwrote.com/1/post/2012/05/cuz-quotes-are-my-religion.htmlHi all! 
Hate to break it to ya, but I have a VERY big day tomorrow at work and need to prepare. I know, you must be devastated. That said, I wouldn't want to leave you without a QOTD (quote of the day) pic. I mean, really...that'd be sacrilegious.
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"You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."
- Marcus Aurelius
]]><![CDATA[Bearing the Bucketlist...]]>Sun, 06 May 2012 00:06:12 GMThttp://www.thequoteiwrote.com/1/post/2012/05/bearing-the-bucketlist.htmlWhen I was seventeen, I almost died of a rare stomach disorder. In wanting to remain optimistic about my death diagnosis, I decided to create a bucket list (BL)--a list of all the things I would want to accomplish in my lifetime should I be given a second chance (...and seeing how I'm still here, I'm going to go ahead and say that the big man upstairs indeed gave me that second chance. Hallelujah!). 

Anyways, the other day I was going through some old paperwork and came across my BL. I have to admit, it was pretty fun to look over my old list and see what it was I wanted for my life back then in comparison to how I live my life now. Good stuff. That said, after reading over my old BL, I decided it would be fun to create a new BL...a BL I could share with all of you! In fact, I got so into this whole bucket list idea that I decided to create a bucket list page here on TQIW. But more on that in a second. First of all, let me tell you why I think it's so important to have a bucket list. Actually, I'll let Mark Houlahan tell you. He's much more "poetic" about the whole thing.
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"If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page."
-Mark Houlahan


And onto my bucket list...
  1.  Write and publish a book
  2. Meet Oprah
  3. Go sjydiving
  4. Be featured in a mainstream magazine
  5. Be on a radio show
  6. Be on the Today Show
  7. Learn a foreign language
  8. Create a self-esteem summit for women
  9. Live in NYC, again... but this time on my terms
  10. Meet the President of the United States
  11. Give a TED talk
  12. Solve the rubiks cube
  13. Get married
  14. Buy a house
  15. Be a mom
  16. Save a life
  17. Invent a card game
  18. Learn to love my natural hair color
  19. Take a hot air balloon ride
  20. Go to the superbowl
  21. Research my family tree
  22. Visit every continent
  23. Start my own charity
  24. Make a deserving person's dreams come true
  25. Find a four leaf clover

There's definitely more than just the above 25 items that I would love to accomplish in my lifetime, but I must tell you, it's much harder to come up with said items then you might think. But I want to know, what's on your bucket list?
]]><![CDATA[Speakin' My Mind One Bad Meal At A Time!]]>Fri, 04 May 2012 02:07:47 GMThttp://www.thequoteiwrote.com/1/post/2012/05/speakin-my-mind-one-bad-meal-at-a-time.html As promised, I'm here reporting back on last night's b-day celebration with BF! Having planned to go out to our favorite mexican restaurant in DC (I die for guacamole), we headed over to Oyamel in the Penn Quarter area. Well, let's just say that it wasn't our night. The food tasted kind of "off," so we pretty much feasted on tortilla chips all night. Needless to say, when we left the restaurant, we both felt "heavy" and semi-nauseous. Actually the only good thing that came out of the evening, besides my mini margarita buzz (I'm seriously the world's lightest lightweight), was the fact that after I got my Jew on (i.e. told the waiter and then the restaurant manager how disappointed the BF and I were with the meal and overall service) the restaurant comped our entire meal. Then again, when food tastes that shnasty, you really shouldn't have to pay for it. Oh well. The BF and I decided to make up for last night's bad eats tonight with some belated birthday Tasti D-Lite. And, seeing how I signed up for Tasti's free birthday ice-cream thingy a few weeks back, my food (again) was "on the house" (#jewishpersonsdream). Talk about a HAPPY birthday!!

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I swoon for rainbow sprinkles.
It's funny though, a few years ago, I would never have had the courage to tell the waiter or restaurant manager that my meal tasted bad. I would of just moved the food around the plate with my fork, pay for my meal, and then leave knowing that I'd never go back. But maybe this is what happens when you get older? You know,  because 23 is SO old and all). But whether or not my ability to relay my beliefs and feelings to others is the result of age or lots of hard work (I'm going to go ahead and assume the latter), the proof is in the pudding...and in the quote.

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"What distinguished the majority of men from the few is their ability to act according to their beliefs."
- Henry Miller

Happy almost Friday, everyone! See ya on the flip side. 
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